2005 Nissan Xterra - Review

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Nissan’s Xterra, introduced in 1999, was an instant hit with younger, active
folks. Still alone and unique in the market, the Xterra fills a purpose similar
to that of the old International Scout, the original Ford Bronco, and the Jeep
Cherokee. It’s in the category of trucks that looks good dirty. It makes no
claims to be a family SUV — no third-row seats, no drop-down DVD player, no
leather seats, no power liftgate. Just a simple but very distinctive
sport-utility that can get you and your gear through a rough trail. So, we
wondered, does the all-new Xterra keep it real?

Like the rest of Nissan’s truck lineup, the Xterra has
been completely redesigned on the F-Alpha platform, first used on the new Titan
full-size pickup and now used on the Armada, Pathfinder, and Frontier pickup and
SUV models. It includes a fully boxed steel frame underneath, with most of the
mechanical components tucked inside the frame.

New engine has the guts

The former Xterra had a very distinctive design, but it
never had a lot of power to boast. Now, the rather inadequate base four-cylinder
engine is gone from the lineup, and the only engine available on the Xterra is a
much more powerful 265-hp, 4.0-liter V-6.

The new V-6 is related to Nissan’s VQ engine family that
powers many of its products, but here it’s tuned for truck duty. It has an
aluminum block and heads, with variable valve timing, variable induction, and a
high-capacity exhaust. With 284 lb-ft of torque, it’s not working hard at all in
routine driving, and with greater efficiency it should get one or two mpg better
than the old V-6, according to Nissan officials.

A six-speed manual is standard, replacing the five-speed
manual of the outgoing Xterra that just couldn’t handle the new engine’s torque.
Nissan officials told us that it’s essentially the same six-speed offered on
Nissan/Infiniti’s rear-wheel-drive cars, like the Z350 and the G35, but with a
different linkage and takeoff for the transfer case. The new six-speed doesn’t
feel anything like the 350Z’s gearbox, because the throws are long and the
linkage is looser, but it does shift easily through all the gates and the clutch
takes up progressively.

Optional on all models is a five-speed automatic
transmission, a version of the same transmission used on the full-size Titan
pickup and Armada SUV. We drove both transmissions, and the automatic shifted
smoothly and confidently, up and down, without the indecision that still seems
to plagues some newer automatics. In the end I was very pleased with the
automatic — and I’m a die-hard shift-it-myself driver.

The front suspension is now a multi-link (double A-arm)
setup, which completely eliminates the need for strut towers and allowed
designers to shorten the engine bay and allow for more cabin room and deeper
footwells. In back, the suspension follows old-school truck tradition, with leaf
springs. They’re underslung, which allows the shock towers to be located as far
outside as possible, for a wider, more stable stance. Travel is comparable to
coils, engineers on the project say.

This actually translates to a very nice, well controlled
ride on the road, especially for a vehicle with such a short wheelbase, the ride
is smooth and settled, rather than pitchy, and the leaf springs in back behave
well unless you’re cornering over a bump or driving down a really pockmarked
road.

Braking is also confident and straight, with none of the
noticeable nosedive you might expect from a tall and (proportionately) short
vehicle like this. Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock and electronic brake
distribution are standard on all Xterras.

Off-road
friendly

Just looking at the Xterra’s profile and stance, it looks
like a vehicle that would be extremely capable off-road, and a short trip onto a
few rough trails gave all indications that it’s a truck that’s tough enough for
more serious off-roading than just going up a two-track to the campsite. Maximum
ground clearance is 9.5 inches, with an approach angle of 33.2 degrees and a
departure angle of 29.4 degrees. Most critical mechanical components are tucked
inside the area protected by the frame rails.

The manually shifted transfer case is now gone, in favor
of one electronically controlled with a dash-mounted knob. The four-wheel-drive
system is still a part-time, off-road-oriented one, with high and low ranges.
Nissan is estimating that 58 percent of Xterras will be sold with four-wheel
drive, compared with about 47 percent on the outgoing Xterra.

Several off-road-friendly electronic aids features otherwise only offered on
pricier SUVs are optional on the Xterra. A VDC stability control system is
optional on automatic models; Hill Descent Control (HDC) allows a slow,
controlled descent down steep hills where there may only be limited traction;
and Hill Start Assist allows a smooth start when pointing uphill during
off-roading by smartly releasing the brakes in synchrony with the throttle. The
VDC effectively includes an active-braking limited slip differential, but a real
driver-selectable, “off-road grade” differential is included on Off-Road models.
You can now use the starter to creep along in 4WD-low, to help in emergency
situations or when off-roading.

Xterra is available in three different trim levels — S,
SE, and Off Road — each with either two- or four-wheel drive. S models are
simply equipped, with standard manual windows, manual outside mirrors, and
16-inch alloy wheels with a steel spare. SE models add more luxurious trim and
appointments, plus fog lamps, five 17-inch tires and alloys, the first-aid kit,
a leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, a unique blue
coarse-textured seat fabric, the aforementioned Rockford Fosgate sound system,
and running boards. The Off Road model adds to the S 16-inch off-road wheels and
tires, Bilstein shocks with off-road tuning, a locking diff (with 4x4), and skid
plates. With automatic, it also includes Hill Descent Control and Hill Start
Assist. Air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD player, a rear wiper/washer, and a full
roof rack are standard on all models. Side airbags and roof-mounted curtain side
bags are optional on all models.

Flashy
roof rack improved

On the original Xterra, a step was built into the roof so
that enough space for back-seat passengers could be provided over the Frontier
pickup frame beneath. The step also gave the Xterra a design cue that made it
easy to recognize in a crowded parking lot. But it brought a disadvantage: It
was a sore thumb in the wind tunnel. Especially combined with the cargo rack and
sunroof, wind noise could get quite excessive on the highway. Smart designers of
the new Xterra found a way to keep the recognizable humpback and the flashy
luggage rack by adding a new solid deflector at the front that doubles as a gear
basket, with a latching door. It directs airflow away from the notch area of the
roof, making it much quieter at speed. The difference is very noticeable, as
this was one of the glaring issues with the outgoing version. Highway cruising
is now very hushed. Primarily because of the packaging constraints of the
deflector and roof shape, a sunroof is now no longer offered.

Another carryover design cue is the little rectangular
bulbous area in the back hatch, where an available full first-aid kit resides on
the inside. A new and thoughtful design element is the step on the side near the
rear bumper to help load the roof area. Product designers found that current
users of the Xterra would typically stand on the top of the tire when loading
and tying down cargo to the roof rack (which is already about 6’3” high), so the
step was added to make it easier and safer to access.

Dimensions are up slightly outside and inside, to now
best describe it as on the small side of mid-size. The new Xterra is an inch
taller and about the same length as the old version, but the wheelbase is two
inches longer, which translates to slightly shorter overhangs. It’s nearly two
and a half inches wider, too. Inside, rear occupants benefit the most, with an
inch more legroom, two inches more headroom, and significantly more shoulder
room than last year’s Xterra. The back seat wouldn’t be a favored choice for
adults on a long trip — more due to its short cushions than a lack of space —
but it’s fine for trips around town.

But it’s likely that most Xterra drivers will seldom use
the back seat. Rather, they’ll have it folded forward, free for cargo like
climbing gear or hiking backpacks. The interior can be quite accommodating
overall for various combinations of cargo and passengers. Before, as with many
vehicles with folding seats, if you folded the back seats forward you couldn’t
recline the front seats. Now you can completely remove the lower back-seat
cushion if needed — rather than flip it forward as before — so that the front
seat has its normal range of adjustability and the back seat is completely flat
for cargo at the same time.

The front passenger seat can fold forward to a horizontal
surface that cargo can be set across. A dual-compartment glovebox, large center
console, and other cubby holes provide plenty of storage space for small items.

Cubbies
and tie-downs

In back, the space is extremely convenient and
configurable. It has the same Utili-Trak cargo system as the Titan pickup,
allowing tie-down points to slide back and forth along the left and right side
of the cargo area. There are a total of ten hooks in the cargo area, and the
floor ones are capable of securing up to 110 pounds. The interior has an Easy
Clean cargo-area surface that can be easily sponged off.

A 300-watt, nine-speaker Rockford-Fosgate Audio system is
optional on all models. It includes speed-sensitive volume adjustment and
steering-wheel-mounted controls, and it’s satellite radio ready and MP3
compatible. It doesn’t, however, have an input jack for external audio players
like the iPod, though we were told it’s on the way for next year.

Xterras are assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee, and engines are made by a nearby Nissan plant
in Decherd, Tennessee.

What made the original Xterra such a great idea is that
its price tag was actually affordable by the people who would most use such a
vehicle to its ability. Although the Xterra was seeing odd popularity,
demographics-wise, as a vehicle for urban women, my guess is that average Xterra
owners take their vehicles off-road far more often than owners of Range Rovers,
X5s, or other high-end SUVs, even though those higher-end vehicles are very
off-road capable.

Nissan has a strong handle on this corner of the market —
there really isn’t anything quite like the Xterra, even from brands who did this
so well in the past. Many shoppers will find the Jeep Wrangler a little too hard
and crude for the commute; the Jeep Liberty is a little more of a family
vehicle, which is what seems to discredit it among these shoppers; and the base
Toyota 4Runner is very appealing but costs quite a lot more. But my honest
summation, which sounds shamefully similar to marketing-speak, is: If you’re a
rough-and-ready, outdoors-centric weekend warrior and on a budget, you can’t do
much better than this.

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